iscover
The Royal Australian Navy has clarified plans to integrate uncrewed aerial and surface vehicles into Arafura Class offshore patrol vessels under project SEA 1180.
Head of Patrol Boats and Specialist Ships, Rear Admiral Michael Houghton and Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond raised new details about the program during a Senate Estimates discussion in February earlier this year.
Arafura Class offshore patrol vessels are expected to carry out constabulary missions, maritime patrol and response duties alongside Australian Border Force vessels, other Australian Defence Force units and regional partners.
“The OPV program was originally a 12-vessel, off-the-shelf purchase with an integrated forward gun. Over the last few years that program has changed in scope,” according to Vice Admiral Hammond.
“It has been reduced as a result of the Independent Assessment Team surface combatant review down to a program of six ships.
“The armament options now include a mix of uncrewed systems. So we are looking at the Arafura class as being a platform that will integrate uncrewed surface systems and uncrewed air systems in the future. A number of different options is underway, including potential for main armament, which remains under consideration.
“We anticipate that the offshore patrol vessel is the ideal platform to leverage the full potential of uncrewed systems as part of an integrated capability… The Arafura class has three sea boat launch positions: port, starboard, over the side, in addition to a stern launch and recovery capability and a very large flight deck.
“The function they were intended to perform and that which they will perform is border work, where the armaments are less relevant to the type of task. But importantly, the range and sea-keeping capability of those vessels enables the work to be done further offshore, sparing some of the surface combatants, the frigates and other vessels, which otherwise would perform that work.”
A 50-calibre machine gun is also reportedly featured on the vessels to facilitate constabulary tasks, border patrol activities, countering illegal fishing, and tasks with Pacific Islands partners.
“The current total budget for the offshore patrol vessel is $4.743 million… We are currently acquiring six offshore patrol vessels,” according to Rear Admiral Houghton.
“Under the contract for the remaining four OPVs that are yet to be delivered, no gun will be fitted to those OPVs. There are no other armaments on those vessels; no other armaments are being delivered.”
